RAILRIDERS WIN 7TH STRAIGHT

RailRiders Roar Late for Seventh Straight Win

Moreno Sizzles in Relief, Longest Win Streak Since 2013

Buffalo, N.Y. – On a bullpen day, a reliever shined as the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) bested the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) on Saturday afternoon, 5-1. The RailRiders’ (51-32) seventh straight win was also their 20^th in 25 games and cemented their seventh straight series win. The Bisons (46-37) have lost three straight games at Coca-Cola Field for the first time since dropping four in a row from May 3-6 including two setbacks to SWB.

Buffalo struck first against fill-in starter Johnny Barbato in the second inning with back-to-back leadoff doubles from Domonic Brown and Melky Mesa for a 1-0 margin. Later in the inning, with men at the corners and one out, Jio Myers flied out to Aaron Judge in right field, who then nailed Mesa at the plate for an inning-ending double play and his team-best seventh outfield assist.

Cesar Puello helped equalize the game in the third when he reached on a leadoff bunt single, stole second and scored on Pete Kozma’s single up the middle.

The game remained deadlocked thanks to reliever Diego Moreno (4-1) who tossed five frames of scoreless, three-hit relief in his longest outing by innings and pitches (69/42 strikes) of the year.

The RailRiders broke through in the eighth, chasing starter and SWB/NYY alumnus Chris Leroux (6-5) in the process. All nine came to the plate in the four-run frame that saw run-scoring blows by Ben Gamel, Donovan Solano and Gary Sanchez along with a pair of Buffalo errors.

The four-game set concludes at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday as right-hander Kyle Haynes (2-3, 4.91) faces former RailRider and switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (2-0, 3.10).

The RailRiders return home for a seven-game homestand starting on the Fourth of July against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). The game includes post-game fireworks presented by the PA Lottery; foam light-up sticks to the first 2,500 fans through the gates thanks to ShurSave Supermarkets; USA-themed jerseys worn by the RailRiders; and Fourth-of-July hats worn by the team that will be auctioned off during the game. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

The RailRiders’ seven-game winning streak is the longest for the franchise since the 2013 unit won eight in a row from April 29-May 5 at Charlotte/Gwinnett in consecutive four-game sweeps.

Depending upon results later tonight, the RailRiders will wake up tomorrow owning at least a share of the best active winning streak in the minors. Both the Yankees’ Advanced-A Tampa club and Low-A Bowling Green (Tampa Bay Rays) entered Saturday with a six-game winning streak.

Diego Moreno tossed the longest outing by an SWB reliever since Kyle Davies fired five frames behind a rehabbing Masahiro Tanaka on May 27, 2015 at Pawtucket.

The RailRiders have outscored Buffalo 15-3 through three games on the four-game series, holding the Bisons to one run in each game.